Books On Board

Deb Caletti Books in Order

  • 23 Books
  • 2002 – 2023 Published

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Reading order
3 of 3 reading orders shown

Where to Start with Deb Caletti

Because the vast majority of Deb Caletti's novels are standalones, you can dive in almost anywhere without feeling lost. However, depending on your preferred genre, there are three ideal starting points:

  • For Contemporary Young Adult: Start with A Heart in a Body in the World (2018). This Michael L. Printz Honor Book is a powerful, emotionally gripping story of a girl running across the country to process trauma and grief. It showcases Caletti's trademark empathy, realism, and beautiful prose. Alternatively, you can start with her classic National Book Award finalist, Honey, Baby, Sweetheart (2004).
  • For Adult Fiction: Start with He's Gone (2013). This was Caletti's first novel written specifically for adults, offering a suspenseful yet deeply emotional exploration of a woman whose husband disappears one morning, forcing her to confront the realities of their marriage.
  • For Middle-Grade Readers: Start with A Flicker of Courage (2020), the first entry in her fantasy-adventure series, Tales of Triumph and Disaster!.

The Interconnected Settings: Shared Universes

While Caletti's young adult and adult books do not follow a sequential storyline, they exist in a shared literary universe. She frequently returns to three main fictional settings in the Pacific Northwest, occasionally weaving minor character crossovers or location references between the stories:

Nine Mile Falls

Based on the real-world town of Issaquah, Washington, where Caletti lived for many years, Nine Mile Falls serves as the emotional home for several of her books. It is most prominent in:

  • Honey, Baby, Sweetheart (2004)
  • The Nature of Jade (2007)

Bishop Rock

Bishop Rock is a quiet, atmospheric seaside beach town that Caletti fell in love with while writing. She used it as the setting for two closely released novels:

  • Stay (2011) - Follows Clara as she hides from an obsessive ex-boyfriend.
  • The Story of Us (2012) - Focuses on Cricket's chaotic family dynamics during her mother's wedding week.

Parrish Island

Parrish Island is a fictional island community set in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It acts as the backdrop for three distinct stories of self-discovery and recovery:

  • The Six Rules of Maybe (2010)
  • The Last Forever (2014)
  • What's Become of Her (2017)

Deb Caletti Books in Order of Publication

Reading Caletti's novels in order of publication is a wonderful way to experience her growth as a writer as she transitions from classic contemporary YA to adult fiction and mystery-thrillers. Below is her complete bibliography organized by publication year:

Standalone Novels (Young Adult & Adult)

  • The Queen of Everything (2002)
  • Honey, Baby, Sweetheart (2004)
  • Wild Roses (2005)
  • The Nature of Jade (2007)
  • The Fortunes of Indigo Skye (2008)
  • The Secret Life of Prince Charming (2009)
  • The Six Rules of Maybe (2010)
  • Stay (2011)
  • The Story of Us (2012)
  • He's Gone (2013) [Adult Fiction debut]
  • The Last Forever (2014) [Adult Fiction]
  • The Secrets She Keeps (2015) [Adult Fiction]
  • Essential Maps for the Lost (2016) [Adult Fiction]
  • What's Become of Her (2017) [Adult Fiction]
  • A Heart in a Body in the World (2018)
  • Girl, Unframed (2020)
  • One Great Lie (2021)
  • The Epic Story of Every Living Thing (2022)
  • Plan A (2023)
  • True Life in Uncanny Valley (2025) [Adult Fiction / Psychological Thriller]
  • You, Me, and Infinity (2026)

Tales of Triumph and Disaster! (Middle-Grade Series)

This is Caletti's only traditional, sequential multi-book series. It should be read in order:

  1. A Flicker of Courage (2020)
  2. The Weird in the Wilds (2020)

Collaborations and Anthologies

  • First Kiss (Then Tell): A Collection of True Lip-Locked Moments (2008) - Caletti contributed the personal story "For John" to this young adult anthology edited by Cylin Busby.
  • Hotel Angeline: A Novel in 36 Voices (2011) - A unique collaborative novel written by 36 Pacific Northwest writers. Caletti wrote Chapter 19 of this collaborative work.

What to Know Before You Start

Caletti is celebrated for her refusal to shy away from difficult topics. Her contemporary YA books often tackle heavy themes such as abusive relationships (Stay), reproductive rights (Plan A), obsessive love (Girl, Unframed), and traumatic grief (A Heart in a Body in the World). Despite these heavy subjects, her writing maintains a sense of warmth, humor, and hope. Keep in mind that her transitions into adult fiction (like He's Gone and True Life in Uncanny Valley) lean more heavily into mystery and psychological elements, while still retaining her deep focus on character relationships.

Frequently Asked

Do I need to read Deb Caletti's books in a specific order?

With the exception of her middle-grade duology, Tales of Triumph and Disaster!, all of Deb Caletti's novels are standalones. You do not need to read them in any specific order, although reading them in publication order allows you to follow her transition from YA to adult fiction.

What is the order of the Tales of Triumph and Disaster! series?

This middle-grade fantasy-adventure series should be read in chronological order: 1. A Flicker of Courage (2020) followed by 2. The Weird in the Wilds (2020).

Which of Deb Caletti's books are written for adults?

Caletti began writing books marketed specifically for adults starting in 2013. Her adult novels include He's Gone (2013), The Last Forever (2014), The Secrets She Keeps (2015), Essential Maps for the Lost (2016), What's Become of Her (2017), and True Life in Uncanny Valley (2025).

What are Nine Mile Falls, Bishop Rock, and Parrish Island?

These are fictional Pacific Northwest settings created by Caletti. While her novels are standalones, they often share these settings, creating a loose, shared universe where characters from different books live nearby or cross paths.

What was Deb Caletti's contribution to Hotel Angeline?

Caletti wrote Chapter 19 of Hotel Angeline: A Novel in 36 Voices (2011), a collaborative writing project organized by the Seattle7Writers to raise funds for literacy programs.

Is True Life in Uncanny Valley a young adult or adult book?

True Life in Uncanny Valley (2025) is an adult psychological thriller focused on identity, family secrets, and the tech industry, rather than a young adult romance.